Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1887-07-08
THE FOURTH OF JULY.

Although the people of Dakota are un-
justly denied all participation in the af-
fairs of the nation, yet there is no part of
the country inhabited by population
more patriotic, and community in this
territory must be small and scattering that
neither celebrates the Fourth of July nor
joins with its neighbors in so doing.
This year 1t was the public-spirited citi-
zens of Winchester that did the hard work
necessary for a proper observan nee of the
day in Emmons County, and their work
was crowned with success in every par
ticular. There was no great crowd pres
ent, as there generally is on occasions of
this character in the more populous coun-
ties IN 1.-THE States" but there were
enough present to prevent any sport or
exercise failing in interest through lack
of numbers. While at the opening exer-
cises of the day in the schoolhouse, and
at the ball there in the evening, the build
ing was we'll filled, there was none of that
disagreeable ovcrcrowding which so often
mars enjoyment and disturbs comfort at
public gathering. There were about
200 people present.
The exercises of the day began at the
schoolhouse, where the assemblage was
called to order. Mr. 9. Ii. Bumstead act
ed as chairman. The programme was as
follows /:
Music Correcting song'), by the Win
chester Choir.
Prayer, by Rev. B. F. Burge.
Music.
Grafton, by County Superintendent
Worst
Music.
The RECORD reporter did not reach
Winchester in time to hear Mr.. Worst's
address; but on every hand we heard IA
vorable comments regarding the gentle
mans effort, and his eloquent and appro-
pirate treatment of subjects dear to every
American heart.
And now the people sat down to one of
the best dinners ever spread IN this part
of the country. There was pleanty to eat
and bushels to spare. The ladies had
paid particular attention to the pastry
department, and the cakes were in such
profusion that even newspaper man
could not have devoured small piece of
each.
A game of base ball between chosen
mines then took place, and now the track
is cleared for the races.
First came the pony race, and this was
more than ordinarily interesting. Eight
horses started, as follows: Wcscott's
horse, ridden by Luther Wescott Wes-
colts mare, by Arthur Wescott the Pc
trie pony, by Johnnie Mahaney; Perry
Gilman's pony, ridden by himself; Frank
Parks pony, ridden by young Michael
Mahaney; Capt. J. A. Cotton's pony,
by Henry Bartou; A. H. Morrison pony,
ridden by ]. A. Brown; pony "Chey-
ennc," entered by Mr.. Cronk, and ridden
by Tom Jones. The first was dead heat
between Wescott mare and Petrie pony.
The Wescott mare then took two heats,
winning the race. The Wescott horse
took second money.
"Moo-oo ooo-oo-oo." Here come the
fiery, untamed shorthorns--.one ridden
(or more like it, tumbled off of) by Sam
Cummins, one by John Brown, and an
other by Ben Brown. Into the field they
cavort, paving the ground, their tails
pointing heavcnward, and fire flashing
from their nostrlls. The oxen made a
good race, and there were "heaps of
| fun Sam Cummins seemed to forget
the combination by which he had previ-
ously ridden his bovine, and took head
er IN each heat. The first heat was taken
by Ben Browns "Beelzebub," John
Browns "Nebuchadnezzar" second, Sam
Cummins' "Flying Cload'' third. Sam
now glued himself to his steed's ridge
pole and the procession again started
But the glue hadn't had time to dry, and
again Samivel did the frog act. A little
further on Ben tumbled, shaking himself
up considerably, and John took the heat
Each of the Brown boys had now taken a
heat; and, as Ben wanted to rest and
Sans glue-pot had been upset, the race
was called and the two takers of a heat
| were given the purse to divide.
For the foot-race there were three
starters-Frank Parks, Ed Palmer, and
Robert Mckay. First money went to
| Frank Parks, and second to Thomas Nc
Kay.
And it came to pass that. after the OK
race, several of the boys communed with
themselves and said, "Lo, we will tackle
the Old Man on the Mule even once again
and propose unto him races without
number, and we will tire out his cayuse,
and take unto ourselves the shekels which
he hath scoeped into his breeches pocket.
| And the Old Man on the Mule said, "You
bet!' And again--yea, even again--did
he win. And the mule brayed, and the
rider smiled, and there was naught of an
emerald hue in the Old Mans eye.
The festivities ended with ball at the
schoolhouse; and this, like everything
else, was grand success. The music
was furnished by Messrs. Gil. Higbee and
Charlie Parker, and was fine. Mr.. H.
on the violin and Mr.. P. on the organ are
& team hard to beat.
The people of Winchester, one and all,
are to be congratulated on the success of
their celebration.
. s.. ?. . : . ! --4s.